A debate is finally on the books for Maryland’s open Senate seat after the two campaigns spent months accusing one other of attempting to dodge the debate stage.
The campaign of Republican Larry Hogan on Tuesday said the former two-term governor had accepted an invitation to an Oct. 23 debate hosted by Maryland Public Television, WBAL-TV, and WRC-TV/WZDC-TV that will be moderated by NBC News’s Chuck Todd. Democrat Angela Alsobrooks previously accepted the debate invite.
Hogan has also committed to two other debates that Alsobrooks has not: one on Oct. 10 hosted by FOX45, WJLA-TV, the Baltimore Sun, and the University of Baltimore and the second on a to-be-determined date hosted by WUSA9, Maryland Public Television, WJZ-TV, and WBOC-TV.
“Governor Hogan looks forward to debating County Executive Alsobrooks this fall on the issues that matter most to Marylanders,” Hogan campaign spokesman Mike Ricci said in a statement. “We remain fully committed to the forums we agreed to in May, and continue to await the Alsobrooks campaign’s response to those invitations.”
In a statement to the Washington Examiner, Alsobrooks said she looked “forward to seeing Larry Hogan on the debate stage” and declined to address whether she would accept additional debates.
The closely watched race is to replace retiring Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and could determine party control of the Senate, which Democrats run with a one-seat margin.
